2016 JOANNE KATES 100 BEST RESTAURANTS

#39 Peoples Eatery

The Avenue’s ultra hipster go-to watering hole comes to us from the owners of 416 Snack Bar, and serves pretty fine small plates thanks to exec chef Dustin Gallagher, who was the chef at Grace and before that cut his teeth at Susur. Hence the fusion Orientalia on the menu: Pretty good Peking duck and super crisp General Tso’s tofu. Plump scallops served on a mini-hibachi with miso mustard eggplant, braised daikon and wonderful yuzu beurre blanc. Fabulous trout sashimi bathed in snazzy kimchi, with salad on top and kewpie mayo. Chef salutes the Avenue’s Jewish history with crispy baby latkes topped with pickled shallots, sour cream and pastrami-spiced smoked trout. From after-work crafty cocktails ’n’ munchies to late night winding down, this is the place to be. But tiny and cramped so expect it to feel like a delectable sardine can.